The importance of Nissan’s new Leaf cannot be overstated. The troubled Japanese automaker is in crisis mode after losing money for several years and a recently failed merger with Honda. It desperately needs a successful product in the immediate future to bounce back, especially after posting a $4.5 billion loss last year alone. By morphing into a crossover, the next-gen EV stands a better chance of being more popular than its two hatchback predecessors.
Until its full debut later this month, Nissan is gradually revealing how it has reinvented the Leaf formula. It’s the most aerodynamic production vehicle the company has ever made, but there’s a twist. The model slated for the United States will have a drag coefficient of 0.26, while its European counterpart achieves a lower Cd of 0.25.
The difference stems from more aero-friendly wheels and mirrors on the European model. On the upside for the US, America’s Leaf will be the first electric Nissan to feature a NACS charging port, facilitating access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Even at 0.25, the Leaf isn’t as slippery as the updated Tesla Model Y, which boasts a drag coefficient of 0.22. Still, it fares better than some vehicles you might expect to perform better, such as the Z (0.31) and the recently discontinued GT-R (0.26).
Nissan has also touched on range, though details remain vague. Richard Candler, Vice President of Global Product Strategy, says owners will be able to drive between 300 and 500 kilometers (186 to 311 miles). The wide range suggests the new Leaf may be offered with different battery packs. A key piece of missing information is which test cycle these figures are based on: WLTP, EPA, or JC08.
The company also claims that 14 minutes at a charging station will replenish enough battery for 155 miles (250 kilometers) of range, though again, the test cycle isn’t specified. Nissan says the 14-minute recharge time reflects how long people typically spend at a gas station refueling an ICE vehicle. It calls the new Leaf a “credible alternative to combustion-engine vehicles,” though only customers can validate that claim with their wallets.
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Source: Nissan
Regardless of region, the 2026 Leaf will feature an active grille shutter, flush door handles, a sloped roofline, and a flat underfloor to improve airflow. If you’re wondering why Nissan hasn’t shown the EV’s rear, it’s likely because the company wants to maintain some secrecy until the official debut in the coming weeks. We do know that it shares the architecture with the larger Ariya, which sits on the AmpR Medium platform, as seen in the Renault Megane E-Tech.
In the meantime, we get a look inside, where the Leaf will offer an optional electrochromic dimming panoramic roof with heat shielding via an infrared-reflective coating. Owners can adjust the glass’s transparency to control how much light enters the cabin. While this technology isn’t new, it’s nice to see it on more mainstream models.
In the luxury segment, Mercedes has been offering a similar feature for over a decade on models such as the S-Class sedan and SL roadster, as well as on discontinued cars like the S-Class Coupe and SLK/SLC. This party trick has trickled down to the mainstream segment, and you can find it on the Volkswagen ID.7, for example.
Nissan is pinning its hopes on the new Leaf to help it recover, but it knows that one EV won’t be enough. Several new models are in the pipeline, including the next-generation Sentra and Rogue, as part of a broader plan to revitalize the company. Still, it’ll take more than fresh products. Nissan also plans to cut 20,000 jobs, shut down seven factories, retire six vehicle platforms, and allegedly even sell its headquarters in Yokohama. Yes, the situation is that bad.
